Campbell's Cuts

Hiring a Canuck coach has Finnlanders up in arms, but GM Jari Kurri thinks it's a smart move... the Pens aren't going anywhere... and why numbers don't tell the whole story. With the 2008 World Championship scheduled for Canada, the Finnish national team figures it will have its best chance of winning with a Canadian behind the bench.

Jason LaBarbera may be stuck in the minors, but at least he's getting a nice paycheck. Before we hear anymore sob stories about Jason LaBarbera and his plight with the Los Angeles Kings, let's consider a couple of things.
First, the guy is making $800,000 to play in the minors.

The NHL's youth did themselves no favors in Tuesday's tilt. DALLAS - The All-Star Game, while registering the customary zero hits as usual, was at least moderately competitive. The same couldn't be said for the YoungStars game Tuesday night where the league's young stars were embarrassing in their cavalier approach to the game.

Both on and off the ice, the Blues new coach has been a boon. DALLAS - St. Louis Blues president John Davidson has nothing but glowing things to say about his newest acquisition in coach Andy Murray, and it's not only because Murray has single-handedly revived the Blues from the dead and helped them into the realm of respectability.

All eyes will be on Crosby and Ovechkin Tuesday and Wednesday. DALLAS Â– Officially it will be known to the world as the 55th NHL All-Star Game, but it's very clear that unofficially this week's festivities will go down as the Sid and Ovie Show.

It could be awhile before the Kings find themselves among the league's elite again... some prospects to watch... and the desert drought continues. Aside from the Philadelphia Flyers, the biggest disappointment in the NHL this season might well be the Los Angeles Kings, an 89-point team last season that could very well end up ahead of only the Flyers once the season ends.

Ontario's Jr. C circuit is home to a pure and simple brand of hockey that's wonderfully refreshing. WINGHAM, Ont. Â– It's Hockey Night in Wingham and the scoreboard and time clock at the Knights of Columbus Centre are acting up. No problem, though.

On pace for only seven losses, this could be a record-setting season in Anaheim. The Anaheim Ducks could effectively end the race for first place in the Pacific Division when they visit the San Jose Sharks Saturday night.
Should the Ducks defeat the Sharks, it would give Anaheim 58 points and a 12-point lead on San Jose with the Sharks having only one game in hand.

A less than capacity crowd in Washington is another sign the NHL is fading from U.S. consciousness. The NHL's head office will have you believe that it doesn't have a serious attendance problem, but one need look no further than Monday night to see just how bad things are.

What the heck does a guy have to do to get a suspension around here?... and would Marc-Edouard Vlasic rather see stars? This is not the time to call into question the actions of Colin Campbell, particularly given that he is grieving the death of his mother over the weekend.

Panthers coach Jacques Martin has an odd idea of what constitutes an entertaining NHL game. There's a good chance the only person who was happier than Saku Koivu at the result of last night's 1-0 shootout win by the Montreal Canadiens over the Florida Panthers was Panthers' head coach Jacques Martin.

The Leafs Cup drought won't likely end, but they may finally claim another piece of hardware - the Norris Trophy. The Toronto Maple Leafs like to portray themselves as an organization rich in tradition and excellence, but the fact is they have never had a Norris Trophy winner in their history.